Tifosi hero warns that F1 must not lose Monza

Having described his second place as the best of his life - albeit 25s behind race-winner Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel launched an emotional plea on the circuit's behalf.

"It's fairly simple, it's the best second place I ever had," he told reporters. "The emotion on the podium is incredible. If we take this away from the calendar for any shitty money reasons I think you are basically ripping our hearts out.

"We are here, we are racing and this makes it so much more worthwhile," he added. "It's what we're here for. You stand on the grid, you look to the left, you look to the right, people are just happy to be part of it and it makes our day. It's incredible. So, thanks for this emotion on behalf of all the Ferrari team. Thank you."

His words, which are sure to earn a rebuke from Bernie Ecclestone who only on Friday warned driver not to criticise Pirelli, come at a time that there is genuine fear that Monza, which has hosted the Italian Grand Prix for all but one occasion in the entire history of the Formula One World Championship, may be dropped.

As ever the reason is money, the circuit, despite its best efforts, unable (as yet) to meet Ecclestone's demands.

Previously the historic Italian track, built in the 1920s, benefitted from a 'discount', but no longer, Ecclestone claiming the promoters are “ten million euros” shy of his asking price..

In its desire to retain the race, Italy wheeled out the big guns, including Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who met with Ecclestone.

Having joined with thousands of others in signing a petition to save the race, Felipe Massa echoed Vettel's sentiments.

"I don't think they can take it out," said the Brazilian, never a winner here but a hero to the tifosi due to his time with Ferrari. "The history of Formula One, this is history here, here is part of what is Formula One... everything that Formula One grows is a lot thanks to these races as well, to these people.

"We race for the people and when you see the podium with a lot of people like that and they're screaming and crying, I don't think we can lose that. This is part of our blood and we cannot lose this type of races.

"I really like to go to new countries, we go to amazing countries, countries that I even didn't know what they meant before and then I love to go there, many different countries and I'm really in favour to go there but you cannot lose something which is inside the blood as well."

"This is one of the best tracks in the world," added race winner Lewis Hamilton. "This has to stay here for moral reasons. As Felipe is saying, all those fans out there who come every single year. Are you going to take this Grand Prix away from us and put on another one, that would not have the same feeling, or would not have the special impact so we definitely have to keep this.

The event was bookended by an emotional flypast from the Italian Air Force, red, white and green smoke filling the sky as the crowd rose to Fratelli d'Italia. Following the race, as is custom, fans filled the track for almost the length of the pit straight, at the heart of the crowd a gigant Ferrari emblem.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by The stogie, 11/09/2015 15:15

"The best way to ensure continued racing at Monza you ask? Bring in a few camels, put in a couple of SAND gardens and erect a couple of oil derricks in the middle of the old high speed oval. A few guys standing around wearing white full length dresses should cement the deal!!!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by joe, 10/09/2015 10:22

"The atmosphere and history at Monza is 2nd to none. I have visited practically all the F1 races in the the present and past calendar. No other race can equal Monza. Races like China that are empty in a track without any history. This includes Malaysia and other new tracks. I had the pleasure to be last Sunday at Monza and you can feel that Italians love Ferrari and Formula 1. "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by Paul C, 09/09/2015 5:12

"Can the management of Monza send Bernie Ecclestone an offer he cannot refuse?"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by Chris SA, 08/09/2015 6:24

"If F1 paid circuits to hold GP's then we would have races at the best tracks for F1, not a track that pays for a few years and falls away. Circuits cannot afford the money Bernie is asking, if the Government or local government don't foot the bill F1 will not survive. As it is Formula 1 cant afford itself. Cut costs."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by karel, 08/09/2015 5:34

"Of course Vettel is at Ferrari now so hearing him say that is no supprise. But... Monza is one of the few remaining historical track throughout history where you can still smell the fuel and the engines from the sixties and seventies. Where good racers died in their hunt for points. It has a history like Francorchamps, Silverstone, .... So loosing this is also loosing another part of real F1. I think we need more people with a heart for F1 instead of Ecclestones and Co with a heart only for profit and money. It's becoming another part in the dead of the real F1"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by RPrior, 07/09/2015 16:28

"Interesting how F1 polarises the fans in their support / criticism of drivers, circuits teams & tyre companies.

Whilst Vettel was winning his world championships, I was not his greatest fan - but neither strongly anti........

When Vettel came on Top Gear, I found myself drawn to his humour.

But I am an Oldie supporter of F1 having watched Jim Clark trackside at the British Grand Prix in 1964.

So it comes as no surprise that I cannot stand the near dangerous tyre construction provided by Pirelli. Just wait till Pirelli's tyres are manufactured in China, where the company's owner is based.......... Then we shall expect to see multiple tyre failures in each race..................

"

Rating: Negative (-2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Paul RB, 07/09/2015 12:07

"First France - that seems now to have been forgotten (time to revive the Mike Lawrence plea of referring only to "Grand Prize" until the return of a French GP), San Marino, then Germany and Valencia (Valencia admittedly not one of the best). All this interspersed with repeated threats against Belgium (fortunately saving, for now at least, THE best circuit) and now Italy. In the meantime we have seen years of new circuits, many of them uninteresting, even sterile, with a fair number falling off the calendar through lack of local support, after the initial razzamatzz. The morals and ethics of this seem to be lost on Ecclestone and his cronies, not just the obliteration of Europe's classic circuits but also the clear abuse of enticing some of the new particpant countries into building facilities that they have ho hope of sustaining - as has been demonstrated.

Yet more grist to the "devaluation and death of Formula 1" mill stoked by avarice and greed "

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by ape, 07/09/2015 12:06

"And the teams don't say a word as they are addicted to Bernie's money machine..."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by Spindoctor, 07/09/2015 11:48

"Went off Vettel when he got into his triumphalist one-finger gesture driving RBR's dominant car.

Recently, after joining Ferrari, he seems to have really started to "get it" and his latest comments about tyres & particularly about Monza seem to be from the heart. Oh and he's driving better too!

"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Vettel: We mustn't lose Monza

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page